Michigan Online Gambling

Michigan has welcomed online gambling and betting with open arms. Governor Gretchen Whitmer kickstarted the state’s journey to a full-fledged online gaming market when she signed three bills. Each bill authorized one online gaming channel: HB 4311 for online casino gaming, HB 4916 for sports betting, and HB 4308 for fantasy sports. 

As of late 2020, Michigan’s rules and regulations are in place and the Michigan Gaming Control Board is reviewing license applications for online gambling sites. This means Michigan bettors could see online gambling apps launch as early as January 2021. A few Michigan casino and sportsbook sites are celebrating the launch of Michigan online gambling by offering pre-launch registration offers.

Pre-Launch Bonus Offers In Michigan

Some Michigan casino and sportsbook operators are offering pre-launch registration offers. There is no deposit required. Simply register now at one of these sites, claim the free bets, and use them when Michigan launches apps. Terms and conditions apply.

• BetRivers Michigan >> Claim $50 in free bets for registering with BetRivers Michigan
• FanDuel Michigan >> Claim $100 in free bets for registering with FanDuel Michigan ($50 sports bet + $50 casino credit)
• BetMGM Michigan >> Claim $200 Welcome Bonus by signing up with BetMGM Michigan ($100 in sports bets + $100 casino credit)
• DraftKings Michigan >> Claim $200 in free bets for registering with DraftKings Michigan ($100 sports bet + $100 blackjack credit)

Online Sports Betting In Michigan

Michigan’s House Bill 4916 made legal sports betting a reality in the state, ushering in a new age of both retail and online betting. For now, eager bettors have a bit longer to wait before they can start wagering on their favorite sports. Though the legislature legalized sports betting, the regulatory process is slow. State lawmakers and the Michigan Gaming Control Board are finalizing rules and regulations that will govern sports betting in the Great Lake State. 

All of Michigan’s casino properties–tribal and commercial–are allowed to launch retail and mobile sports betting under the state’s law. This will create a strong, competitive sportsbook ecosystem with many operators vying for the top spot. 

Michigan is expected to launch online sports betting as early as January 2021. Retail sportsbooks opened earlier in 2020. Sports betting is on its way to Michigan, and operators are gearing up to launch in what is sure to be a competitive market. 

Best Online Sportsbooks In Michigan

With no sportsbooks actually live yet, it’s hard to judge which will be Michigan’s best and brightest. However, major sports betting companies have inked partnerships in Michigan, giving us a look into the state’s sports betting future. Here are a few leading operators we expect to launch in Michigan as soon as regulations and licenses allow. 

FanDuel Michigan

FanDuel is another massive leader in the sportsbook industry. The company formed a partnership with MotorCity Casino in Detroit. When FanDuel brings online sports betting to Michigan, it will likely be a top competitor in the market thanks to its strong corporate backing (FanDuel is owned by Flutter, a European gambling leader) and US experience. 

FanDuel typically offers a $1000 risk-free bet as a new player incentive, and we expect that to be the case in Michigan. Players will be able to bet with FanDuel on iOS, Android, or desktop devices. 

Visit: FanDuel Michigan to claim $100 in free bets just for registering

BetMGM Michigan

MGM Resorts will launch sports betting with its MGM Grand Detroit license. This will bring Roar Digital (a partnership between MGM and GVC Holdings) to the Michigan sports betting scene. BetMGM has a wide audience in many US markets, and its roots in Michigan should help it secure a leading position in the state. 

BetMGM offers sports betting via iOS and Android apps in addition to desktop.

Visit: BetMGM Michigan to claim $200 in free bets ($100 sports bet + $100 casino credit)

DraftKings Michigan

No conversation about leading sportsbook providers is complete without mentioning DraftKings. The company is an undisputed frontrunner in many legal sports betting markets, and it’s ready to carve out a top spot in Michigan, too. 

DraftKings is partnered with Bay Mills Resort and Casino, Michigan’s longest-running tribal casino property. 

When DraftKings enters the Michigan market, expect lucrative bonuses like a deposit match bonus up to $1000. You’ll be able to access DraftKings on desktop, Android, and iOS devices. 

Visit: DraftKings Michigan to claim $200 in free bets for registering

Additional Online Sportsbooks

Of course, other operators will aim to nab a top spot in the Michigan sports betting market. Here’s a rundown of sportsbooks to expect in the state plus their casino partner, if applicable.

• DraftKings (Bay Mills Resort and Casino)
• BetRivers/SugarHouse (Gun Lake Casino)
• BetMGM (MGM Grand Detroit)
• FanDuel (MotorCity Casino)
• Barstool Sportsbook (Penn National Gaming  & Greektown Casino)
• William Hill (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, owners of Leelanau Sands Casino and Turtle Creek Hotel and Casino)
• Golden Nugget Sportsbook
• Kewadin Sportsbook
• Four Winds Sportsbook
• FireKeepers Sportsbook
• FOX Bet/Stars Group (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, owners of Odawa Casino Mackinaw and Odawa Casino Petoskey)
• BetAmerica (Hannahville Indian Community, Island Resort and Casino in Harris)
• PointsBet (Northern Waters Casino Resort)
• Parx Casino

See our full guide to Michigan Online Sports Betting Apps 

Betting On Sports In Michigan

Compared to other states, Michigan has very few sports betting restrictions. Bettors can wager on college matches with no restrictions, and professional sports are completely fair game. The only iffy area at this point is esports. There’s no specific language allowing or prohibiting esports betting in Michigan. Michigan was quick to embrace all forms of online gambling, though, so esports betting looks like a positive prospect in the state. Also, look for top sportsbook bonus offers in Michigan. 

Online Casinos In Michigan

You could classify Michigan as an early adopter of online casino gaming. It’s one of only five states to regulate online casinos. Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were the first states to launch online casinos. West Virginia joined the club in 2020. 

So while sports betting carves a path to legalization in multiple states, online casinos remain a hold-out for many markets. Michigan took a different stance, choosing to legalize mobile casino gaming alongside sports betting, creating a midwestern online gaming market that is virtually unrivaled in the region. 

Best Online Casinos In Michigan

Online casinos in Michigan have yet to launch in the Great Lake State. For that reason, it’s difficult to pin down exactly which operators will make a splash in Michigan. These are some of the casino apps we think will be the best in Michigan based on their experience in other states.   

Golden Nugget Online Casino

Golden Nugget is one of the top names in casino gaming in the US. By partnering with Ojibwa Casino, they are bringing their well-known casino app to Michigan. Golden Nugget has a strong app, with an easy user interface. They are probably best known, though, for their vast selection of casino games, including several hundred online slot options – one of the best in the industry.

BetRivers Casino Michigan

BetRivers Casino is partnering with Little River Casino Resort in Manistee to launch both its online casino and online sportsbook product. BetRivers is building a strong reputation for a quality online casino app in the US due, in part, to its vast selection of online slots and table games.

Visit: BetRivers Michigan to claim $50 in free bets

FanDuel Casino Michigan

FanDuel is most known for sports, but after launching successful casino apps in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, they are poised for success in Michigan. Partnering with MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit, they’ve already launched a retail sportsbook at the casino. Once casino apps launch in Michigan, players can expect a top-notch app, particularly for bettors who love sports as much as casino games.

Visit: FanDuel Michigan to claim $100 in free bets

What To Expect From Michigan Online Casinos

When online casinos make their way to Michigan, players will have access to hundreds of games. Many of them will be slots from the world’s top providers with themes based on major pop culture franchises. There will also be popular proprietary themed games that players may recognize from casino floors. Online casinos will offer bonuses to new players. 

Table games will be on offer as well: baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and more. Michigan’s online casinos may also include live dealer games. Live dealer games feature a real dealer live streaming straight to your device and doling out cards at a virtual “table.” The computer collects and settles bets while the dealer runs the hand. Live dealer games combine the fun of heading to an actual casino with the convenience of playing casino games on the go. 

See our full Guide To Michigan Online Casino Apps.

Michigan Online Poker

In addition to online casinos, Michigan is also set to launch several online poker apps, making it one of the few states to do so. We anticipate that it might take a bit longer for poker sites to launch in Michigan, but we anticipate at least two poker sites will launch in 2021.

PokerStars is partnered with Odawa Casino Resort and partypoker Michigan is partnered with MGM Grand Detroit. We also anticipate that WSOP, the World Series of Poker, will launch in Michigan although no partnership has been announced.

Under the initial Michigan gambling bill, an oversight in the legislation meant that Michigan poker players would be limited to only playing other Michigan players online. The Michigan House, though, is trying to rectify this oversight and hopes to announce in 2021 that when online poker launches in Michigan, players would be able to join interstate poker pools. This means Michigan players could play poker online against players in New Jersey and Nevada.

Other Online Gambling Options In Michigan

While the wait for online sports betting and casino gaming continues, Michigan gamblers can still access a number of online options. 

Online Horse Race Wagering

Though it’s now seen as a progressive market thanks to recent legislation, Michigan lagged behind with regard to online horse race betting until mid-2020. In May, The Michigan Gaming Control Board issued an order authorizing online horse race wagering. 

Before the order brought online pari-mutuel betting to Michigan, horse racing enthusiasts could only place bets at Northville Downs. Northville Downs is Michigan’s sole racetrack, and it also offers simulcast betting. 

TwinSpires, BetAmerica, and Xpressbet are some of the most popular horse race betting apps. Following the MCGB’s order, they became available to players in Michigan. To bet using these platforms, you must be 18 years of age or older and be within state lines. 

Daily Fantasy Sports

Michigan’s gambling expansion legislation included House Bill 4308, which formally authorized Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). However, major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings have long been offering DFS in the state–albeit without full authorization. 

DFS exists in a legal middle-ground in most states that neither prohibits nor expressly allows companies to operate. Until Governor Whitmer passed Michigan’s legislation, that was the case in the Great Lake State. 

Now, operators can provide DFS to Michiganders without any risk of legal repercussions. In fact, Michigan offers competitively low licensing fees, making it an ideal market for smaller operators of Daily Fantasy Sports like Monkey Knife Fight. 

The move also bodes well for FanDuel and DraftKings. Both companies started as DFS operators before joining the legal sportsbook race. Now, the two competitors will be able to offer DFS, sportsbooks, and online casinos in Michigan, setting the stage for potentially massive revenue from the state. 

Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes sites like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand are excellent alternatives to real money online casinos. 

The sweepstakes model offers cash prizes to players in the form of sweeps coins. To get sweeps coins, players can mail in a request or purchase a separate in-game currency, usually called “gold coins.” Every purchase has the potential to award a player a few free sweeps coins. 

You can use gold coins to play casino games for fun. Chumba Casino includes slots and table games while LuckyLand focuses on slots. Once you have enough sweeps coins, you can play with them for a chance to win more. After you’ve played with your sweeps coins, any you have remaining (or additional sweeps coins you’ve won) can be redeemed for cash prizes. 

Sweepstakes sites get their name from the model they use. The sweepstakes model allows them to offer their sites even in jurisdictions with strict regulations. In Michigan, players can enjoy sweepstakes casinos legally. 

Sweepstakes Poker Sites

Global Poker is currently the most popular sweepstakes poker site, and it’s run by the same company that operates Chumba Casino. 

The model is almost the exact same. Each in-game purchase nets you a small allotment of sweeps coins, which you can then play with and redeem for cash prizes. You can also mail in a request for free sweeps coins, an option that allows these sites to operate legally even in jurisdictions that don’t allow legal online casinos. 

Online Lottery

Michigan kicked off online lottery sales in 2014. It was one of the first states to offer this option. The Michigan Lottery website has a helpful page on how to play online lottery games. 

Players can purchase more than 60 games online in Michigan, and some games (instants and Keno) even have free demos you can try before purchasing the real thing. 

For players hoping to hit a big jackpot, Michigan offers online purchases for draw games like Powerball, MegaMillions, and Michigan’s Lotto 47.

Michigan residents can play online lottery games via desktop or mobile devices through the Lottery’s Android or iOS app. 

Casinos In Michigan

Michigan’s gambling history stretches back to 1933 when the state legalized pari-mutuel horse race wagering. For nearly 40 years, that remained the only legal form of gambling in the state until the Michigan Lottery was approved and launched in 1972. 

It wasn’t until 1984, however, that Michigan casino gambling took off in a meaningful way. Tribal casinos launched in the state after Fred Dakota of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Tribe contested the state’s right to govern gambling on tribal land. Later that year, tribal casinos began to pop up in Michigan. 

Since then, Michigan has become a gambling-friendly state with 26 casinos (23 of them tribal properties). That trend continued into the 2010s when the state legalized online gaming. Now, Michigan is poised to become a 360-degree gambling leader with land-based casinos, horse race betting, and full online gambling available to players. 

Michigan Gambling Compared To Neighboring States

Michigan is nestled in the midwest among states with widely disparate views on gambling. Some nearby states welcome gambling in many forms while others enforce strict regulations. 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin takes a conservative approach to gambling, by only allowing tribal casinos within its borders. There are no commercial casinos in Wisconsin, and attempts to legalize sports betting in recent years have stalled due to strong opposition. 

Ohio

Ohio has some gambling available: namely a smattering of land-based casinos, horse racing, and a lottery. Michigan outpaces Ohio on the online front, though. Ohio has not legalized online gambling. A 2016 study recommended the Buckeye State authorize online gaming, but little has come of the recommendation and not much has happened since, legislatively speaking. 

Indiana

Of the three states that actually share a border with Michigan, Indiana brings the strongest competition. The Hoosier State unveiled sports betting in 2019 and has seen success since the launch. Players in Indiana can register and bet online without visiting a property in-person, and its headstart may give it a leg-up on Michigan’s sports betting offer. 

However, Indiana still prohibits online casino gaming, opening up an added opportunity for Michigan’s online gaming revenue to pull ahead after launch. 

Illinois

Though it’s not a formal neighbor, Illinois is only a short drive from southwestern Michigan, especially for those looking to visit Chicago in Northeast Illinois. 

The Prairie State has made recent moves to ramp up its online gambling offer, including the legalization of online sports betting. Additionally, Illinois recently authorized the construction of up to six new casinos. In other words, the Land of Lincoln is setting itself up as a midwestern gambling hub and could give Michigan a run for its money. 

But, like Indiana, Illinois has not legalized online casino gaming. Michigan could remain the only online casino gaming market in the midwest for some time.

Michigan Online Gambling Options

Who Regulates Michigan Online Gambling?

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) oversees almost all legal gambling in the Great Lake State. It’s a government agency that sets forth rules and regulations that govern all legal gambling operations in Michigan. 

The Board’s jurisdiction includes Detroit’s land-based casinos, sports betting, online casino gaming, and horse race betting. 

The notable exception is any tribal offering. Tribal properties are governed by the National Indian Gaming Commission because they are sovereign groups that do not fall under state jurisdiction. 

The MGCB website features plenty of helpful resources if you’re curious about Michigan gambling regulations. The site is also frequently updated with Michigan gambling news. 

Is Online Gambling Safe In Michigan?

When it launches, Michigan’s legal online gambling portfolio will be safe to use. The state is currently setting up a regulatory framework that will govern all online gambling and sports betting operations in the state. MEasures will be put in place to protect users, and operators who don’t abide by regulatory requirements will risk losing their licenses. 

On the operator side, there will be important security practices in place to protect your data. Online gambling providers use high-level encryption tools to keep your data safe as it travels from your device to the operator’s systems. 

Michigan Gambling FAQ